e-Key <span id="jodit_selection_marker_1710149730300_7591250926995035" data-jodit_selection_marker="start" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>v3 - Glo<span id="jodit_selection_marker_1710149730300_32405891266313014" data-jodit_selection_marker="end" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>riosa
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Colchicaceae - Gloriosa L.

Description:

  • Climbing or erect geophytes
  • Corms abruptly bent
  • Stems supple, scandent
  • Leaves cauline, sessile, alternate or crowded in places, simple, linear to ovate, attenuated into a terminal, recurved tendril
  • Flowers ± nodding, on upper part of stem on long pedicels, placed beside a leaf or unattended
  • Perianth: segments free, equal, narrowly ovate-acuminate, often crisped, reflexed, persistent, yellow or red
  • Stamens hypogynous; filaments firm, terete, spreading; anthers 2-thecous, versatile
  • Ovary ovoid to oblong; ovules many; style filiform, bent sharply outwards at base, with 3 short stigmatic arms
  • Capsule ovoid or cylindrical, 3-valved, septicidally dehiscent, leathery
  • Seeds globose, bright red, fleshy
  • x = 11 (14)

Nomenclature:

  • Gloriosa L.
    • Linnaeus 305 (1753)
    • Baker: 525 (1897)
    • Sölch et al.: 50 (1970)
    • Field: 243 (1972)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global: Species ± 6, closely related, Africa, Asia
  • Southern Africa: Species 1: Gloriosa superba L. (G. virescens Lindley is regarded as a subspecies), Namibia, Botswana, Northern Province, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Swaziland, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape

References:

  • BAKER, J.G. 1897. Liliaceae. Flora capensis 6
  • FIELD, D.V. 1972. The identity of Gloriosa simplex L. (Liliaceae). Kew Bulletin 25
  • LINNAEUS, C. 1753. Species plantarum. Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm
  • SÖLCH, A., ROESSLER, H. & MERXMÜLLER, H. 1970. Liliaceae. Prodromus einer Flora von Südwestafrika 147

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